$2,500 reward offered for information about shooting of bald eagle in Stone County

View full sizeBald eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, both federal and state wildlife statutes. Violations of these statutes carry maximum criminal penalties of up to $100,000 and/or one year in federal prison.

JACKSON, Mississippi -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks are investigating the shooting of a bald eagle in Stone County.

A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the shooting.

The bald eagle was discovered in the Big Level community near O'Neal Road and King Bee Road, southeast of Wiggins.

The investigation revealed the eagle was shot between the dates of January 9 - 19, 2013.

Due to its injuries, the eagle could not have flown far from where it was shot. The bald eagle is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Wildlife Care and Rescue Center.

Bald eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, both federal and state wildlife statutes. Violations of these statutes carry maximum criminal penalties of up to $100,000 and/or one year in federal prison.

Anyone with information concerning this eagle is asked to contact the USFWS's Jackson Office of Law Enforcement at 601-965-4699 or call the MDWFP Law Enforcement Bureau at 601-432-2074.